Metal-cutting company Sandvik Coromant is expanding its milling offering with the new CoroMill MF80 for automotive milling applications in ISO K and ISO P materials in close to 90° operations with fixture constraints. Based on a technology platform like the existing CoroMill 345, this new milling concept offers a 40% lighter cutter body with shim…
Optimized 5-axis post processor for FANUC CNCs
FANUC America, a factory automation solutions provider, and CNC Software, global CAM systems provider of Mastercam, has introduced a new post processor designed to optimize 5-axis capabilities in FANUC CNCs. The new post processor allows advanced machine tool operators to reduce their cycle times while boosting part accuracy, particularly for CAD/CAM generated 5-axis simultaneous contouring…
Impact sensors monitor for brain injury in sports and recreation helmets
Digital manufacturing leader Protolabs announced that Tozuda is its latest Cool Idea Award winner. Attached to sports helmets, the head impact sensors made by this Philadelphia-based company of the same name change color to bright red when they experience an impact potentially strong enough to cause a concussion. Protolabs’ Cool Idea Award provides in-kind manufacturing…
Digital manufacturing makes a better prosthesis, enabling paralympic athlete to compete in Winter X Games
In 2008, 38-year-old ‘Monster’ Mike Schultz from St. Cloud, MN suffered a knee injury during a snowmobile competition, resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. The prosthesis Schultz received after his accident didn’t perform as he needed for competitive, rigorous sports. Using his knowledge and experience of fabrication and tuning suspension…
How to design for laser cutting
Whether you are an engineer, an entrepreneur, or just a frequent user of prototypes, laser cutting allows the design and manufacture of products with speed and precision — at a low cost. Even though laser cutting requires a piece to be cut on a flat material such as a sheet of metal, it doesn’t mean…
How to recreate Thanos’ Endgame Infinity Blade
For a little fun and relaxation: The Hacksmith used Protolabs’ CNC machining services to recreate the blade handguard and handguard spacer from the movie Avengers: Endgame. Protolabs www.protolabs.com
NewSentry PVC Enclosures from AttaBox
AttaBox NewSentry series thermoplastic PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) junction boxes are extremely rugged and light enclosures for harsh, aggressive environments and are well-suited for extremely wet and corrosive environments. Uses vary from high-end electronics to extreme corrosive applications both indoors and out, and their small footprint allows use in tight spaces. The easily workable PVC construction…
Not a rosy outlook in industrial markets
Scott Hazelton of IHS Markit gave an overview of the industrial markets for hydraulics at this week’s National Fluid Power Association IEOC event. The IEOC (International Economic Outlook Conference), an annual must-attend industry conference, was held this year at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort. Hazelton’s outlook wasn’t a sunny one (“not a lot of…
CNC Total Care package service
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. announces the CNC Total Care Package service for its CNC systems. The service package is tailored for Mitsubishi Electric’s Mitsubishi Electric’s M8, M7, and M6 Control Series. The Total Care Package provides maintenance by combining three existing services: CloudCNC backup, machine tuning, and preventive maintenance. The resulting outcome is increased efficiency…
High torque retention knobs help reign in tooling budget
Boeing Profile Automotive industry manufacturers have basic requirements from their suppliers — on-time delivery, accuracy, and sufficient available stock. They want perfect parts, but they want them to be immediately available at a price they can control. Automotive industry suppliers need to have the ability to maintain production volume and quality, while maintaining a competitive…
CNC grinding machine helps robotics application get in gear
When the Taiwanese machine tool company Chien Wei Precise Technology needed CNC grinding machines for manufacturing specialist gears used in robotics applications, they called on CNC high-end application company, NUM to assist. Based entirely on NUM’s latest-generation Flexium+ 68 CNC platform, Chien Wei’s new machines are designed to speed the production of both involute and…
Design lessons for HMIs
Author: Olga Zinoveva, Senior Software Engineer, Bright Machines From the physical push buttons, lights and switches of the 1980s, to the multi-touch screens of today, Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) have evolved over the last few decades. However, as someone with a background in software engineering for games and consumer applications, I’ve noticed many opportunities to replicate…
DRO with touch screen for machining
The POSITIP 8016 digital readout (DRO) with touch screen is for manual machine tool applications. With its sturdy machined aluminum housing, this DRO adds reliability and ease-of-use to milling, drilling, boring and turning jobs. The PT 8016 DRO has a multitude of functions including a Taper calculator, Bolt-Hole Pattern routine and Tool Radius Compensator. This…
Protolabs digital manufacturing model makes production affordable
CNC machining is a popular way to obtain prototypes and low-volume production runs. And engineers can choose from a range of providers, from full-service providers to independent shops. But the key to selecting a vendor is still how fast can they deliver parts, and do so consistently. The preferred answer is days, not weeks. At…
Vention expands digital manufacturing platform for machine design
Vention, a next-generation digital manufacturing platform for custom factory equipment, announced the release of its second major platform upgrade since its founding in 2016. It also announced the completion of a $17M CAD Series A financing round led by Bain Capital Ventures. Vention will accelerate the development of its cloud-based MachineBuilder 3D software and expand…
Rexroth’s North American GoTo Focused Delivery Program — 9th consecutive year of growth
For the 9th consecutive year, Bosch Rexroth’s GoTo Focused Delivery Program continues to offer high demand products across Rexroth’s broad range of technologies for fast delivery. More than 99% of the products in the program ship in 10 days or fewer, with the same lead times in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. With the GoTo…
Siemens demonstrates concrete potential of digitalization for the machine tool industry
Under the motto “Digitalization in Machine Tool Manufacturing”, Siemens demonstrates how machine tool users and manufacturers can benefit from digitalization. Siemens is driving digitalization in the machine tool industry forward from its leading position in the field. The future is a focus on the company’s extensive, integrated, end-to-end digitalization portfolio. With this unique offering, Siemens…
Promess to release electromechanical platen-type press for precision assembly and material preparation at IMTS
Promess Inc. will introduce a new servo-controlled electromechanical platen-type press in Booth 236623 at IMTS 2018 in Chicago — September 10 to 15. The Promess Platen Press is designed for assembly and material preparation applications in battery manufacturing, aerospace component production and similar areas requiring precise application of high force over a large area. The…
OMRON to display vision, flexible manufacturing, traceability and safety solutions at IMTS
OMRON Automation Americas — provider of industrial automation solutions — will be displaying a wide range of technologies at the upcoming International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) at booth #134845 in September. These products and solutions are aimed at helping manufacturers meet a variety of needs in vision inspection, flexible manufacturing, traceability and safety while edging…
Destaco launches series of precision guides
Destaco, the industry-leading supplier of high-performance automation, workholding, and remote handling solutions, is excited to announce the availability of its new VV85G Series Precision Guides. “This launch represents the continuation of our commitment to provide innovative and practical clamping solutions for our global client base,” said Matt McCartney, Destaco’s Vice President, Strategy, Marketing & Product…
Robotic piece picking module improves picking accuracy
The Robotic Piece Picking Module is designed to improve accuracy and productivity during the last touch — the point where items of varying sizes and shapes are processed by hand — of the fulfillment process. Traditionally, the last touch has been a manual process, but the Robotic Piece Picking Module completes the automation of the…
B&R tracks and other Adaptive Machine offerings for production flexibility: See it at IMTS 2018
At this year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) — September 10 to 15 in Chicago’s McCormick Place — B&R Industrial Automation Corp. will introduce track technology to support Adaptive Machine concepts. Adaptive machines can change on the fly and reconfigure with different production modules using one base machine platform. This new generation of production machinery…
Fictiv launches new Agile Manufacturing Solution to unlock overseas manufacturing
Fictiv announced its Agile Manufacturing Solution (AMS), a suite of production manufacturing services for supply chain and engineering teams who need fast, quality end-use parts at high volumes of 100 – 500,000 units. AMS is available today at fictiv.com/agile. Fictiv’s AMS is designed to make overseas manufacturing more accessible and responsive to shifting market demands,…
Magnetic mounts minimize downtime, maximize productivity
Balluff’s new magnetic mounts for inductive couplers provide a simple and cost-effective solution for applications that require regular tool or die changes. The mounts, which connect through the use of strong earth magnets, can be easily attached or disengaged allowing for quick changes. “Magnetic mounts make tool or die changing quick and simple with their…
JW Winco inch size steel and stainless steel gear lever handles
JW Winco, Inc., A Ganter Company, a supplier of standard industrial machine components, now offers GN 310 Steel and Stainless Steel Gear Lever Handles, available in inch as well as metric sizes. Both versions of the Gear Lever Handles are RoHS compliant. The steel lever option is zinc plated with a blue passivated finish and…